Metallica - The Shortest Straw Tab

================================================================================
                               M E T A L L I C A

                                       -

                       T H E   S H O R T E S T   S T R A W
================================================================================

                                  Tempo = 140 BPM
                               Time Signature = 4/4

                          -----------------------------
                                 Transcribed by

                                 PADDY MCMULLAN
                           pmtabs (@t) gmail [dot] com

                          Version 1.1 [30th August 2012]
                      (Corrections Outlined at Bottom of Tab)

                                   Date Tabbed
                                  26th May 2012
                             -----------------------

 (/)       -  Legato Slide (Blank space indicates length of slide)
 \         -  Slide Down to/Down From
 /         -  Slide Up to/Up From
 ( )       -  Ghost Note/Tied Note/Implied Note
 REST      -  Rest and sustain rest for duration of blank space
 |_3_|     -  Triplet Notes
 P.M...    -  Palm Mute
 5b6       -  Bend
 6r5       -  Release Bend
 13b'      -  Quarter note Bend
 13b;      -  Three Quarter Note Bend
 5~~       -  Vibrato
 <5>       -  Harmonic (Natural & Pinch Harmonics indicated with N & P)
 x         -  Dead Note/Muted Note
 %         -  Whammy Bar Articulation
 5h7       -  Hammer-On
 7p5       -  Pull-Off
 *         -  Staccato Notes (Bring the indicated note(s) to an abrupt end)
 |__[1,2]  -  Alternate Endings

================================================================================

Intro: Guitars 1 & 2 (Distortion) [ Time 00:00 - 00:14 ]

================================================================================ 1 2
R R
1 4 E E
/ / S S
16 2 4 3 2 T 2 3 2 T 2 3 2 5
0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 3
... .... ... .... ...... 3 4 5
R R
E E
S S 3
3 2 T 2 3 2 T 2 3 2 1 3 2 2
1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
... ... ... ...... ... ... 6 7 8
R R R
E E E
S S S
3 2 T 2 3 2 5 3 2 T 2 3 2 T 2 2 3 2
1 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
.... ...... ... ... ... ...... The 1/16 bar is only there to accommodate the first pre-beat note of the song; the song proper (i.e. the first down-beat) starts at the first whole bar. ================================================================================ Part 1: Guitars 1 & 2 [ Time 00:14 - 00:46 ] ================================================================================
3
2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 5 1
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0
.... ............ .... ... ...
3
2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 1 5
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3
.... ............ .... ... ...
3
2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 5 1
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0
.... ............ .... ... ...
2 4
* * / * / x 2
2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 5 5 4 4 3 4
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 3 2 1
.... ............ .... ...
2 4
/ * /
2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 3 3 4
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
.... ............ ... ================================================================================ Part 2: Guitars 1 & 2 [ Time 00:46 - 01:05 ] ================================================================================ [ Guitar 1 Only ] |______3____| |________3____|
*
8 (7 b8) 8 * x 2
2 /7 7\ 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 (3) 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
................. After the first repeat the first E5 chord becomes a single open string. Guitar 2 plays a single open E5 chord in tandem with the first chord played by Guitar 1, but only for the first repeat, after which it rests until the full band kicks in below: [ Guitars 1 & 2 ]
3 3 [1]
*
8 (7 b8) 8 * x 3
2 /7 7\ 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 (3) 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
.................
[2]
*
*
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5 (5) 5
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3
.................
[3]
*
0 *
2 2 2 2 2 2 0 7 (7) 7
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 5
.................
8 (7h 8p7\5)
7 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 3
0 /5 3 3 3 3 3 3 0 2 0 1
.............. ================================================================================ Part 3: Guitars 1 & 2 [ Time 01:05 - 01:32 ] ================================================================================
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 (3) 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5 (5) 5
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3
................. .................
*
* x 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 (3) 3 2 2 2 2 2 5 4 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 1
................. ...........
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 /5 (5) 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 7 (7) 7
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 /3 0 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 5 0 5
.............. ..............
*
* x 2
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 /5 (5) 5 4 4 4 4 7 6 5
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 /3 0 3 2 2 2 2 0 5 4 3
.............. ........... ================================================================================ Part 4: Guitars 1 & 2 [ Time 01:32 - 1:39 ] ================================================================================ |______3____| |________3____|
*
8 (7 b8) 8 * x 2
2 /7 7\ 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 (3) 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
.................
4 4 4 4 (2h3p2p0) (2h3p2p0)
2 2 2 2
....... Only Guitar 1 plays the legato runs in the final bar; Guitar 2 rests after the fourth B5 chord. ================================================================================ Part 5: Guitars 1 & 2 [ Time 01:39 - 01:46 ] ================================================================================
9 9 (9 / 10) (4 /5) 5 (2h3p2p0) (2h3p2p0)
7 0 7 0 (7 / 8 ) (2 /3) 3
0 0 0 0
... ... ... ...
2 2 2 (9 / 10) (4 /5) 5 (2h3p2p0) (2h3p2p0)
0 0 0 0 (7 / 8 ) (2 /3) 3
0 0
... ... ... ... ================================================================================ Part 6: Repeat Part 1, ignoring the final two bars. [ Time 01:46 - 02:16 ] ================================================================================ ================================================================================ Part 7: Repeat Part 2, ignoring the first two bars. [ Time 02:16 - 02:29 ] ================================================================================ ================================================================================ Part 8: Repeat Part 3. [ Time 02:29 - 02:55 ] ================================================================================ ================================================================================ Part 9: Repeat Part 4. [ Time 02:55 - 03:03 ] ================================================================================ ================================================================================ Part 10: Repeat Part 5 [ Time 03:03 - 03:10 ] ================================================================================ ================================================================================ Part 11: Repeat Part 1, ignoring the final two bars. [ Time 03:10 - 03:39 ] ================================================================================ ================================================================================ Part 12: Repeat the first two bars of Part 2 [ Time 03:39 - 03:46 ] ================================================================================ ================================================================================ Part 13: Guitars 1, 2 & 3 (Distortion) [ Time 03:46 - 03:58 ] ================================================================================
Guitars 1 & 2:
2 3 0
0 1 2
*
* x 2
5 5 4 3
3 3 2 1
.........
Guitar 3:
7 8 (7h 8p7) 7 8 (7h 8p7)
/7 (7) 7 7 8 (8) 8 8
7 9 10 /12 12 12 12~~ 12
9 10 9 10 9 \
...
7 8 (7h 8p7) 7 8 (7h 8p7)
/7 (7) 7 7 8 (8) 8 8
R
E
7 9 10 /12 12 12 12~~ S
9 10 9 T
... ================================================================================

Guitar Solo 1: Guitars 1, 2 & 3 (Distortion) [ Time 03:58 - 04:41 ]

================================================================================
Guitars 1 & 2:
R
2 E 4
/ S /
4 T 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 (3) 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5 (5) 5
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3
................. .................
*
* x 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 (3) 3 2 2 2 2 2 5 4 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 1
................. ...........
R R R
E E E
S S S
2 T 3 (3) 3 T 5 (5) 5 T 3 (3) 3
0 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 3 0 1 0 1
... ... ...
R
E *
S * x 2
2 T 5 4 3
0 3 2 1
4 5 2
2 3 4
[1]
*
* x 2
7 7 6 5
5 5 4 3
......... |_____________________[2]
R
E
S
7 7 6 5 5 4 3 T
5 5 4 3 3 2 1
.......... Guitar 2 replaces the last bar with the following:
R R
E E
S S
T 3 T
1

Guitar 3:
/% % \ % / %/ %/ %/ %/ %/ %/
<5> 14
5p 0 /15
2 4 9 7 14
/ /
4 4
|___3___| |__3___| |__3___|
(17p15p14) 12 (15p14p12) 10 (14p12p10) 10 (12p10p8p0)
15 14 12
... N %/ %/ %/ %/
<7>
<7>
<7> <5>
<7> <5>
12 0 0 12 0
12 15p12 (12h15p12) 19p12 17p12 15 12 12h15 12
(14b16) (14b16) 0 (14b16)
|___3____| |__3____| |_3__|
14p12 12
15 15 14 12 (12) 14p12 (14) 12 (12h14p12) 12 12
12 14 14
P
<12>b14
<14>b18
<14>b15 <13>b15 <12>b13
<14>b15
7/ 19
<13>b' <12>b; <12><10>b11 <13>~~
|_3__|
22 20 19p17 17 20 19 17 17\15 15 15h19 17 15\ 14 17 15 \
12/ 17
|_____3___| |_3_|
12/
17h20 24 22 20 19 19h22 20 19\17 20 19p17 17\15 15 15/19 17\15 15\12/ 17
|___3____| |___3____| |__3___|
12
17 20 19 17\ 15 15 19 17 15 15\13 17 15 13 15 13 12 12 12 12
16
17 p 12 12h15 p 12 14 p 12 0
14 p 12 (14b16)~~ \
9/12
(16p12) (15p11) (14p10) (13p9) (12p8) (11p7) (10p6) (9p5)
0 (2p0)
(8p4) (7b'p3) (7p2) (6/5p0) (2p0) 2
|__3___| |__3___| |___3____| |____3___| % \ dive
12 15
12 11 x R
7 / 10 13 E
9 7 14 S
7 11 T
.......................
9p6 (6) 9p6 (6) 9p6 9p6 (6) 9p6 (6) 9p6
7 7 7 7
10p7 (7) 10p7 (7) 10p7 10p7 (7) 10p7 (7) 10p7
8 8 8 8
12p7 (7) 12p7 (7) 12p7 12p7 (7) 12p7 (7) 12p7/
9 9 9 9
12p9 (9) 12p9 (9) 12p9 12p9 (9) 12p9 (9) 12p9
10 10 10 10
9 10 (9h 10p9) (9) 9 10 (9h 10p9) (9)
9 (9) 9 9 10 (10) 10 10
... ....
R
E
9 11 12 /14 14 14 14~~ S
11 12 11 T
================================================================================ Part 14: Repeat Part 1 once [ Time 04:41 - 04:55 ] ================================================================================ ================================================================================

Guitar Solo 2: Guitars 1, 2 & 3 [ Time 04:55 - 05:11 ]

================================================================================
Guitars 1 & 2: Repeat Part 1 again, adding the following bar to the end:
R
3 E 4
/ S > /
4 2 T 2 4
0 0
Fade in from silence
Guitar 3: With Wha-Pedal
Whammy Bar Vibrato
(17b' ) (17)
(17b19) (19) x (19 r17h15) 17 15~~
(18b
(18b20) (18b 20) (20 r18h15) 18
(17b19) x\
x\
* * * * * *
20) 18 18p17 15 15 18
18
18 p 15 15 18 p 15
18 18 p 15 15 18 p 15
(17b19) 17 15 15h19 15
18 (15b17) 18 18 15b'
(17b19) (15b17) 17 17 15b'
17
15 17 15b'
15 17 (17b19p15) 15b' 2 3
17 17 15~~ / 17 \ /
4 4
================================================================================ Part 15: Repeat Part 3 [ Time 05:11 - 05:37 ] ================================================================================ ================================================================================ Part 16: Repeat Part 4 [ Time 05:37 - 05:45 ] ================================================================================ ================================================================================ Part 17: Guitars 1 & 2 (Variation of Part 5) [ Time 05:45 - 05:52 ] ================================================================================
9 9 (9 / 10) (4 /5) 5 (2h3p2p0) (2h3p2p0)
7 0 7 0 (7 / 8 ) (2 /3) 3
0 0 0 0
... ... ... ...
7 7 (9 / 10) (4 /5) 5 (2h3p2p0) (2h3p2p0)
5 0 5 0 (7 / 8 ) (2 /3) 3
0 0
... ... ... ... ================================================================================ Part 18: Repeat Part 1 once, adding the following 2 bars: [ Time 05:52 - 06:13 ] ================================================================================
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 (3) 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5 (5) 5
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3
................. ................. ================================================================================

Outro: Guitars 1, 2 & 3 [ Time 06:13 - 06:35 ]

================================================================================ Guitars 1, 2 & 3 repeat part 13. Guitars 1 & 2 continue with the following:
Guitar 1:
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 (3) 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
.................
R
E
S
2 T 2 2
0 0 0 0 0
...
Guitar 2:
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 (3) 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
.................
R
E
S 12 12 \
2 T 10 10 \
0 0 0
... ================================================================================ End ================================================================================

Tab summary: Intro

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13

Guitar Solo 1

Part 14

Guitar Solo 2

Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18

Outro

END
[ Corrections: 30th August 2012 ]

* The last bar of the Intro has been corrected. The fourth chord of the

bar is E5, whereas I had tabbed F5 by mistake.

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